Property Record
1023 E RUSSELL AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Church of the Immaculate Conception |
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| Other Name: | IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH |
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| Reference Number: | 27651 |
| Location (Address): | 1023 E RUSSELL AVE |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Milwaukee |
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| Year Built: | 1907 |
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| Additions: | 1959 |
| Survey Date: | 1990 |
| Historic Use: | house of worship |
| Architectural Style: | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | BRUST & BRUST - 1959; Buemming & Dick |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. Land for the church was donated by the Milwaukee Iron Co. THE 1959 ADDITION increased the seating capacity to 1,000. PRESENT CHURCH REPLACED THE ORIGINAL WOODEN ONE IN 1907. THE ORIGINAL RUSSELL AVE. ENTRANCE WAS CONVERTED INTO A SHRINE NICHE IN 1959; THE INTERIOR ALSO DATES FROM THIS TIME. ORIGINALLY ROOFED WITH SLATE. CHAS. KINDT - CARPENTER. R. HOEPNER - BUILDER. Another map code is 7/19, on LUQS 500. Neo-Classical church design in rose beige brick with stone trim. An addition was constructed in 1959, increasing the seating capacity to 1000. At that time, the main entrance was changed from Russell Avenue to Kinnikinnic. The new entry features a stately portico with a Corinthian collunade. The stained glass windows were designed by the Conrad Schmitt studios of Milwaukee. Early Bay View Catholic congregation founded in 1871 by Irish mill workers on land donated by the Milwaukee Iron Company. The present edifice replaced the original structure on the site. "The churches along South Kinnickinnic Avenue present a variety of styles and building materials. The former Bay View Assembly of God, 2701 South Logan, is a rambling wood structure, while St. Lucas Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2605 South Kinnickinnic, and Trinity Methodist Church, 2772 South Kinnickinnic, are both brick buildings, Gothic Revival in style. For the Church of the Immaculate Conception, architects Herman W. Buemming and Gustav A. Dick provided a Neo-classical design, interpreted in champagne-colored brick and stone. Several Bay View churches, including Trinity Methodist and this one, were constructed on land donated by the Milwaukee Iron Company. The present church was founded by Irish mill workers. The men of the parish wanted to name their church for St. Patrick, but they were opposed by the women, who favored honoring the Immaculate Conception. To settle the issue, votes were sold, with proceeds going to the building fund; and the ladies won the day. By 1959 the congregation had grown considerably, making it necessary to enlarge the church. An addition increasing seating capacity to 1,000 was built, and at the same time the church entrance was changed from Russell Avenue to South Kinnickinnc. The new entry is a stately, Corinthian-colonnaded portico. Striking features of the remodeled interior are the mosaic of the genealogy of Christ and the stained glass windows, all designed and executed by the Conrad Schmitt Studios of Milwaukee." Pagel, Mary Ellen & Virginia A. Palmer, University Extension University of Wisconsin, Guides to Historic Milwaukee: Walker's Point and South, 1969. |
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| Bibliographic References: | PERMIT. MILWAUKEE HISTORIC BUILDINGS DRIVING TOUR OF BAY VIEW. OAK CREEK BAY VIEWER 11/17/1994. Pagel, p. 30. Pagel & Palmer, Guides to Historic Milwaukee: Walkers Point & South (1969), p. 30. Kerstein, Edward, My South Side. (1976). Pagel, Mary Ellen & Virginia A. Palmer, University Extension University of Wisconsin, Guides to Historic Milwaukee: Walker's Point and South, 1969. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |